The object of meditation and the mind which knows it must be noted as they occur. If they are not noted, desire arises and disturbs concentration.

The essence of all phenomena is empty and clear like space. The nature of mind is awareness-emptiness like the sun and sky.

We deal with our mind from morning until evening, and it can be our best friend or our worst enemy.

Observe the reality as it is, not as you wish it to be.

As a flower that is lovely and beautiful, but is scentless, even so fruitless is the well-spoken word of one who does not practice it.

Those who understand interdependent origination understand suffering, its origin, its cessation, and the path.

The trouble is, you think you have time.

The essence of Buddhist practice is to reduce our selfishness and to work for the benefit of others.

Who would then deny that when I am sipping tea in my tearoom I am swallowing the whole universe with it and that this very moment of my lifting the bowl to my lips is eternity itself transcending time and space?

The purpose of meditation is not to create a mental vacuum but to come to know one's own mind.

Birth and death are neither two things nor one thing. Life is not an appearance, death is not a disappearance.

The ocean does not reject any water; therefore it is great. The mountain does not select its stones; therefore it is great.

Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.

The signs of practice are not in extraordinary experiences but in extraordinary awareness of ordinary experiences.

Study the Buddha's teaching which is present in every moment.

True peace is found not in the absence of experience but in the clear seeing of all experience.

Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun.

When the mind is ready to understand, the truth will come to meet it.

When mindfulness and concentration are strong, insight into the three characteristics naturally unfolds.

Panic is a gateway to wisdom. When we learn to stay present with our panic, it becomes our teacher.

The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.

My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.

It is under the greatest adversity that there exists the greatest potential for doing good, both for oneself and others.

The practice of Zen is forgetting the self in the act of uniting with something.

The teaching is simple: act with kindness and compassion. If you cannot do this, at least try not to harm others.

The path to enlightenment is not a path at all. It is a realization that where you are is where you have always been.

When you understand one thing through and through, you understand everything. When you try to understand everything, you will not understand anything.

When we know the truth, we become people who don't have to think much, we become people with wisdom.

Not by hatred is hatred conquered, but by love alone. This is an eternal law.

The way is basically perfect. It is not a matter of practice or enlightenment.

Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship.

To understand everything is to forgive everything.

Ethical conduct is not a constraint upon our freedom but a condition of our freedom.